Manual - International Environmental Technology Centre

can be used for transformation and retention
of nutrients and pollutants.
Plant cover is one of the most dynamic and
vulnerable components for the regulation of
the water cycle in a watershed. It is fundamental
to the evapotranspiration rate and,
therefore, can help to mitigate effects of
floods and droughts.
Production of plant biomass provides alternative
sources of energy (bioenergy), resulting
in reduction of CO emissions from bur-
2
ning fossil fuels.
Some other benefits from using plants include:
production of materials for housing,
food, forage medicine production and the
creation of employment opportunities.
An understanding of the potential and the limitations
of phytotechnologies would ensure success
when they are applied. Insufficient knowledge and
expertise regarding selection of species, distribution
and disposition requirements, factors influencing
plant growth, as well as public and regulatory
acceptance of their use, will cause the use
this technological approach to fail. Each applica-
tion of phytotechnologies involves site-specific
considerations and should be evaluated on a caseby-case
basis. The developers and proponents of
phytotechnological applications must be able to
demonstrate environmental performance of the
selected technique based on objectives and economic
benefits and minimizing potential environmental
and human health risks (the latter particularly
in cases of phytoremediation applications
that are undertaken to clean polluted sites).
The effectiveness in the short and long term of
the application of phytotechnologies would also
depend on having both broad-based and expert
input into their development, adoption, maintenance
and monitoring by those utilizing them. The
involvement in some cases of local citizens will
also ensure their performance and sustainability.
Specific examples of phytotechnological
applications in IWM
The major goal of applying of phytotechnologies
and ecohydrology in IWM is to improve water quality
and quantity as well as to stabilize the hydrological
cycle. To achieve this, applications of
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Introduction: Ecohydrology & Phytotechnology